Name/Title
2016 - 16 JULY - CGG Vimy Ridge Pilgrimage - The Canadian Grenadier Guards Nijmegen Team pilgrimage to the Canadian Vimy memorial in FranceDescription
2016 - CGG's fourth official Canadian Vimy Ridge Pilgrimage - members of The Canadian Grenadier Guards Nijmegen Team visit the Canadian Vimy memorial in France
2016 CGG Team Members left to right top row to bottom:
MWO Jesse Carlevaris - Team Captain
Sgt David Brownlee
Cpl Belafi
Sgt Hurtubise
WO Ian Delong (51 Field Ambulance)
Cpl Weindrich
Captain Anhorn
Gdsm Allman
Cpl Ruiz-Haas
Sgt Manuel Perez
Cpl Renaud
Cpl Smith
16 JULY 2016 VIMY MEMORIAL VISIT
The 16 July 2016 CGG Nijmegen Team Vimy Members:
MWO Jesse Carlevaris - Team Captain, Capt Anhorn, Cpl Renaud (holding flag), Sgt Brownlee (glasses), Cpl Allman, Cpl Belafi, Cpl Ruiz-Haas, Cpl Hurturbise, Cpl Weindrich, WO Delong (Medic), Cpl Smith (holding flag), and Sgt Perez
ABOUT THE 4-Day (Nijmegen) March:
The Vierdaagse ('four-day event') is an annual walk that has taken place since 1909. Based at Nijmegen since 1925, it now takes place in the third week of July. In 2016 it celebrated the 100th edition (reflecting that the marches were curtailed during the two world wars). Originally a military event with a few civilians, it now is a mainly civilian event. Numbers have risen in recent years, with over 40,000 taking part annually, including about 5,000 military, and is the world's largest walking event. Due to possible congestion on the route, since 2004 the organizers have limited the number of participants. Participants walk 30 km (19 mi), 40 km (25 mi) or 50 km (31 mi) daily, depending on their age and gender and, on completion, receive a royally approved medal (Vierdaagsekruis). On Fridays of the event, as participants near the finish, the public presents walkers with gladioli, a symbol of victory since Roman times, when gladiators were likewise showered with these flowers. The entry into the city and towards the finish, along the St. Annastraat, is for that reason called Via Gladiola during the event.
The participants are mostly civilians, with a few thousand military participants as well. Military participants' distance is 40 km, in uniform, carrying at least 10 kg (22 lb) marching weight for men aged 18–49; for women, the weight is optional.
CGG Team - Nijmegen Day #1:
Today, the team successfully completed Day 1 of the 4-day March. It was one of the longest of the days (45km), and temperatures reached 32 deg C with 50% humidity. The crowds were thick, but the reception we got from the Dutch people was amazing, every town turns out to cheer on, hydrate & feed the marchers. Picture attached if from our form-up at 0400h. We’re recovering & prepping for Day 2, which is likely to be hotter, but a shorter route.
CGG Team Nijmegen Day #2:
The weather was hotter today, around 36 deg C with 40% humidity. But because we got an earlier start (0400h) and it was our shortest day (38km), we were able to complete most of the march before the worst of the mid-day sun had set in. The high humidity finally peaked with a huge thunderstorm, but luckily we were already done when it hit. Today’s route mainly brought us through the countryside west of Nijmegen, alternating between country lanes and quaint villages, where again the marchers were given a rousing welcome by the locals. Some new blisters appeared, but our team medic takes care of them during nightly foot parade. Tomorrow’s 42km route brings us to the Groesbeek area southeast of the city for Day #3. Forecast is 60% chance of rain, but temperatures in the mid-20’s.
CGG Team Nijmegen Day #3
Day 3 of the International Four Days Marches Nijmegen is reputably the hardest, and it didn’t disappoint. The main challenge in this 42km stretch was the visit to Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery. There, the entire contingent, plus representatives from several allied countries, completed a remembrance ceremony for the 2338 Canadian soldiers buried here, of which there are fourteen members of the 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (CGG). The members of the team found some of them and paid their respects.After 32km of marching, which included several steep hills, stopping to take part in a 1-hr ceremony, then re-staring to finish the last 10km was quite difficult.
CGG Team Nijmegen Day #4
The last 46km. Today, the CGG team completed the 4th and final day of the 2016 International Four Days Marches Nijmegen. Despite the accumulation of blisters & sore feet & knees, morale was high because we knew it was almost over. Historically, no one falls out on day 4. Weather was humid but cooler than before, but at the 10km mark, it started raining HARD for the next 2 hours. We were completely soaked from head to toe, but after wringing out our socks, the team pushed on for the final stretch while singing cadences with other teams (Swiss, Dutch, Brits…) to keep our minds off our feet. At the 41km mark, military teams pulled off the road where we changed into clean uniforms and were awarded our medals. Then, the entire Canadian contingent formed up and marched the last 5km along the Via Gladiola Nijmegen, the traditional victory lap into downtown Nijmegen. The crowds were huge, enthusiastic and very welcoming. It’s a celebration that you have to experience to truly appreciate the magnitude. As a side note, the Canadian contingent was the only one to have 100% of its marchers finish, only the 2nd time in nearly 20 years.
The team has now moved to another base for a weekend of rest & recovery (Amsterdam!) before flying back home to Canada on Monday. Everyone on the team is very proud of their accomplishment, and is looking forward to sharing Nijmegen ‘war stories’ in the mess. Up The Guards.Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
May 17, 2025Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
May 17, 2025